Tangy and sweet, almost entirely covered with a rusty red blush. Heavy yields are late to ripen, very end of September or early October.
Requires Meader Male for pollination. Z4. Maine Grown. (well-rooted vines)
Items from our perennial plants warehouse ordered on or before March 7 will ship around March 31 through late April, starting with warmer areas and finishing in colder areas. Orders placed after March 7 will ship around late April through early-to-mid May, in the order in which they were received.
Productive twining vines climb 20' or more and produce delicious kumquat-sized kiwi fruits in late summer, so delicious that you might not be able to stop eating them! Unlike supermarket kiwis, the skin is smooth and edible. The longer they ripen on the vine, the sweeter they become. Once vines are established, adequate pruning (see directions below) will significantly increase yields. No significant pest or disease problems.
Although the vines are quite hardy, the flowers and foliage are frost sensitive. Planting on a northern exposure will delay budding in spring and reduce risk of frost damage. Protection from winter winds and intense winter sun is also recommended. Mulch with hay or wood chips. In poor soil fertilize annually with compost (such as either Rainbow Valley compost or Coast of Maine Quoddy Blend compost).
We offer two species:
Actinidia arguta ripens around mid-September, has large fruit and is more vigorous than kolomikta. (Argutas can just about pull down a tree.)
Actinidia kolomikta ripens around mid-August, has small fruit and is less vigorous but more cold-hardy than arguta and should thrive even in the northernmost districts.
Both species are native to eastern Asia.
Summer pruning may be required to keep extremely rampant vines from choking out your farm.
